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#1
02-24-2008, 02:42 PM
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Completed RCA 630 TS Restoration
As promised, here is a link to a very abbreviated photo monatage that summarizes a 6 month saga to a nearly ground-up restoration of my RCA 630 TS.
Enjoy... LJB 8) http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p...edium=text_url 
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#4
02-24-2008, 08:05 PM
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The pictures hardly do the TV justice. Refinishing & restoration is my forte. The Chassis looks as it does because I removed as many components as I could, and individually cleaned/emory papered/polished/painted them all. The top of the Chassis is just cleaned, not replated or painted. The sides of the chassis were emory papered, tacked, and dusted with an aluminum-based paint just enough to cover, but, not look like paint.
All the shields, brackets, transformers, cages, covers, etc were cleaned, sanded, refinished with the appropriate finish. I masked and preserved all stamps, parts numbers, inspection marks, etc on the Chassis and the Cabinet. The Cabinet was completely disassembled, stripped, vineers reglued, etc with the appropriate agents and finishes. It was NOT overrestored, i.e, shiny on the inside of the cabinet, etc. All production marks and stamps were reapplied. All Labels were recreated via Photoshop of the origionals, or of other 630 TS's. Phil Nelson supplied the images of the "Eyewitness" and the Serial Number labels. My chassis still had the rest of them. But, the "Golden Voice" label we located on line, and Barbara, my GF, resized it to the proper dimensions. All Labels were digitally cleaned up and printed with the correct colors. Decals were repros for. a 621TS, and were applied. You can pick your teeth in the cabinet's finish. 8 coats, hand rubbed down to 2000 grit emory paper. The Electronics were, of course, the most challenging. This set was modified down thru the years, and I reverted it back to it's stock, early/mid production condition. I did not restuff caps, figuring this was my first TV restoration, and better to take it easy. But, above the Chassis, it appears bone stock. I replaced all 15 electrolytics and about 70 various caps. All Tube Caps were, obviously, replaced. The 1500 mmf mica caps were left alone. A goodly amount of the high value resistors were replaced with flame proof ones. They don't appear above the chassis. All the old electrolytic cans were left in place. Wafer Boards below support the new electrolytics. There's a lot I left out. Been working on this set for 6 months, and, it's finally complete, right down to the stickers. Still have a minor drifting problem with the picture, but, I'll get that tomorrow with some freeze spray. Now I'm looking for ANOTHER TV to completely restore. It's a disease... LJB 
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#5
02-24-2008, 08:24 PM
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Nice!
 I've got a customer in Pittsfield that has one of those, and was eager to get it completely restored. Then I told him what it would probably cost him. End of story--at least for now.Some day or another I might take this up as a hobby again, but working in a music store as electronics technician soured me some. Some day....  But I'm just the same impressed with what you have done, and my hat's off to you. Good luck with your freeze mist in locating the horiz AFC drift problem.
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| Audiokarma |
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#6
02-24-2008, 08:30 PM
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...oh, and sharp eyes will notice the speaker grille cloth is non-stock. I could not locate the stock material, or a repro. I picked an RCA Speaker Cloth from a bunch of swaths because it's gold & black pattern harmonized with the Cabinet's color and finish, and because the Bakelite Switch's Decals were the same colors.
The Serial Number Tag on the back, is NOT in the usual location (under the High Voltage Cage) because this set has a Keyed AGC where this label usually goes. As near as I can figure, it was installed at the Factory, as the wiring, caps, resistors, etc all look stock vintage. The Serial Number Tag went on the wire would resistor cover. If anybody knows where it really goes, I'd like to know... LJB PS: I'm ordering a bunch of DVD's of Newsreels from the 40's thru 60's. They'll look great on the 630TS. Also, I'm getting a bunch of Nuclear Bomb 40's and 50's stuff. "Duck, and Cover!"
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#8
02-26-2008, 02:39 PM
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If you ever get mad at that 630 & decide that it MUST leave, I'd love to give it a home where it'd be loved, petted, played with 'n' called "George"...An' I ain't too persnickety about the decals, Golden Throats, Deep Throats, none o' that...(grin)
__________________
Benevolent Despot
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#9
02-26-2008, 03:03 PM
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Quote:
Every square inch was restored. I can't let Her go. I'm looking for a Playmate for Her...Any Suggestions on a next TV Project? LJB PS: Christ, I have it Bad...
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#10
02-27-2008, 12:13 AM
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Quote:
You may already have read about Hugo Holden's 621 remanufacturing project on the ETF website. http://www.earlytelevision.org/holden_621.html Going to those lengths is not to my taste, but there's a lot of good information in that article. A 621 will cost more upfront than a 630, but if you pay yourself $1 per hour during the restoration, you can earn back that investment in no time :-) Good job on this project. If you run out of things to do, you can finish my incomplete RCA CTC-11 color roundie, which has been languishing on the workbench. Phil Nelson Phil's Old Radios http://antiqueradio.org/index.html
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| Audiokarma |
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#11
02-27-2008, 04:22 AM
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Quote:
By The Way, both You and Hugo Holden were the inspiration for my Project. As you can see from the finished resto, I closely followed both of your work. Thanks! LJB
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#12
02-26-2008, 04:39 PM
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Quote:
 The Abominable Snowman! Memories..... 
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